Journaling

I have written daily in a journal most days since November 2021. I believe writing down my thoughts with pen and paper has had a large impact on how I navigate both the blessings and the hardships of my life. Over this time, I have experimented with various formats for how I journal. The one constant I always start with is a list of people, things, feelings, or anything I am thankful for. I write down 6 points I am thankful for every time I journal. I feel a sense of calmness during this practice because writing down what I am thankful for prompts me to realize these pieces of my life consciously. No matter what is going on in my life, journaling is a reset for a new day.

The rest of my journaling habit has changed over the months. Sometimes I write three tasks I want to accomplish over the day, and a skill I want to improve. Sometimes I have an “other thoughts” section where I put miscellaneous thoughts and plans. The one other constant I always have is a “daily debrief” section. I usually write what I am thankful for in the morning shortly after starting my day, and then fill in the daily debrief section at the end of the day. I do it this way so I have a positive start to my day, thinking of what I am thankful for, and then a solo reflection period of what I did over the day, what worked and what did not, what was positive and what was negative, what I enjoyed and what I did not enjoy. I have found that morning and evening practice helps me to close each day and prepare for the next.

In a way, this newsletter (what became this book) has become a public journal for me. I am not necessarily discussing my personal life on a day-to-day basis, but I am delving deeper into thoughts and ideas existing within my mind. I have found great enjoyment in using written words to explore my thoughts and share them in a public manner. This habit has become a daily outlet where I can fully realize my thoughts and feelings about the topics I discuss.

I recognize that the act of physically writing your thoughts with pen and paper is not for everyone. Neither is typing out your thoughts. But I do believe solo reflection time is one of the most important things you can do in your life. If you never have time set for yourself, implementing that into your life can do wonders.